We continued our tour of the Research Institute after that.
The captured armaments, beginning with the Magic Cannons, had all seen various improvements. However, it seemed that several problems remained, and putting them into immediate practical use would be difficult. I was told the guns were currently the closest to completion.
Even so, there was a sense that they would eventually reach the stage of practical application. The Research Institute Director had explained their progress with such confidence that I didn't doubt her words. There was no cause for haste. Weapon Development had always been a long-term project; I wasn't looking for an immediate boost in military power. I expected steady results from the staff, even if they took their time. Nothing good would come from rushing them.
Next, we were led to a spacious chamber. The ceiling was higher here than in the other rooms, and the space consisted almost entirely of cages. These finely partitioned cells occupied every inch of the room save for a narrow walkway, stacked in tiers all the way to the ceiling.
Layered barriers had been placed over the iron bars—a security mechanism designed to trigger an alarm the moment they were touched without authorization. As expected, the occupants were strictly confined.
Low groans emanated from the countless cages. Those sounds, which I had long since grown accustomed to, were the voices of imprisoned ghouls. Clad in restraint garments, the ghouls lay inside their cells. Their bodies showed little decay; they were all relatively fresh specimens. From a distance, many were indistinguishable from humans.
This facility was dedicated to researching how to return the undead to the state of the living. The undead imprisoned here were spies from other nations. They were agents who had been caught sneaking into the Royal Capital, and I had chosen them as test subjects, deciding they would serve a better purpose as research material than as simple corpses. Since the undead we had in storage were mostly skeletons or too far gone with rot, these fresh captures were ideal. Even if we were to find a way to return them to life, I wanted to attempt it with fresh specimens first.
Metal placards were affixed to each cage, listing detailed experimental conditions by category. They indicated exactly what kind of tests had been performed on each subject. Looking at the records, it was clear that the inspections were being carried out with meticulous care. One could glimpse the raw enthusiasm and the deep agony of the researchers in their notes.
"We have attempted various medications and magical formulas, but we simply cannot find a solution. Since the transformation from a living being to an undead is considered irreversible, as one might expect, overturning that law is..."
The director trailed off, her eyes scanning the room. Her shoulders were slumped; she clearly felt the weight of the difficulty. I knew all too well how much of an impossible challenge this was, so I saw no reason to reproach her.
Currently, it was nearly impossible to restore a creature that had fundamentally changed its nature to its original state. Even within the Magic Laws that governed a vast array of phenomena, that was considered common sense.
"You may prioritize other research and development if necessary, but do not abandon this project. Continue your investigations."
"Y-Yes, sir! Understood!" At my instruction, the director straightened her posture and replied with renewed vigor. I didn't want to push her too hard, but I couldn't have her giving up either. This balance seemed just right.
I might have to seek a path on my own as well, I thought.
Regarding the method to return the undead to the living, I wasn't researching it for my own sake. Having been so deeply tied to the Valley of the Dead, I would likely remain an undead regardless of any discovery. My nature was a powerful curse in itself, and likely not the sort that could be undone by any means. It wasn't at a stage where the researchers' wits alone could solve it.
However, regardless of my own circumstances, establishing this technology would be incredibly useful. I could think of many applications. Dorda, for instance, might be a candidate for restoration. He had been a legendary Great Pirate in life; if he regained his personality and humanity, he could fully utilize the tactical and leadership skills he once possessed.
"I wonder what would become of me, were I to join the ranks of the living!" Grom muttered on a sudden whim.
That was a difficult question. In his case, the circumstances of his birth were far too complex. He had been synthesized through my authority from a massive number of undead—a powerful being imbued with the memories and experiences of countless lost souls. Possessing immense miasma and magic power, Grom was a monster second only to me.
To be honest, his state was beyond the point of "irreversible." The scale was entirely different from a single individual undergoing undeadification. It would likely be impossible to turn Grom into a living human as he was.
Would extracting the soul and transferring it into a living body be a more certain method? Even if it were, such a feat would require incredibly advanced techniques. It was a completely different field of study from the research being conducted in this room. Since there was no pressing need to turn Grom into a living being, he probably wouldn't undergo any major changes for now.
At any rate, since no progress had been made yet on this front, I would simply have to watch over the project in the long term. Fortunately, we had no shortage of undead to use as subjects. As long as the work proceeded in parallel with other research, I was satisfied.
After finishing my rounds of the cages, I informed the director of my next request.
"I would like to see the research in question now."
"...Understood. This way." The director’s expression turned slightly awkward as she led us quickly out of the room. She began to lead the way in silence, and Grom and I followed.
Along the way, Grom leaned in and whispered to me. "She seems quite somber. What exactly is this 'research in question'?"
"You will understand when you see it. It is not a very pleasant subject, however."
If one were to judge based on what was "pleasant," the weaponry would be the highlight of the tour. Grom had been visibly excited while looking at the equipment under development. He had listened enthusiastically to the director's explanations and had even praised the guns, saying he wanted to adopt them into the Demon King's Army as soon as possible. He had taken a significant liking to the idea of modernizing our military. Compared to those earlier inspections, the research we were about to see would undoubtedly feel grim.
"We have arrived. It is in here."
The director stopped in front of a room located at the very back of the institute. The security systems and magic tools installed here were particularly strict; entering without high-level authorization would be impossible. The director opened the door after passing through several pieces of authentication equipment.
We followed her inside. The layout was much like the previous room, with rows of cages and human figures within. However, there was one stark difference: the occupants of these cages were not the undead, but unmistakably corpses.
Many were completely skeletal, while others were in various states of decay. There were even glass containers filled with liquid where pieces of flesh floated. It was a gruesome sight.
There were a few staff members in the room, so immersed in their work that they didn't even look up as we entered. Some were writing out long documents, while others were performing examinations on the remains.
Witnessing this, Grom whispered in a low, somber voice. "C-Could this be..."
"It is research for the Resurrection of the Dead," I said, my voice devoid of emotion.
As if it were exactly what he had expected, Grom fell into a heavy silence.
"What is the progress?"
"As stated in the report, there are still no signs of success. We have grasped nothing as of yet. I am terribly sorry..."
"Do not worry. It is only natural." I offered words of comfort to the director as she bowed her head.
Bringing back the dead is a true miracle. Rising up through undeadification is, in a sense, a hollow imitation. One merely transforms into a different type of existence; it is fundamentally different from true resurrection. It must be far more difficult than returning an undead to a living state. It was only natural that there was no immediate prospect of success.
If it were easy, I would have done it long ago. It was precisely because I could not do it that I had gathered specialists and built this facility. I intended to monitor this research over the span of years. It was a task of immense difficulty, but one that held irreplaceable value.
Eventually, Grom and I left the Research Institute. I had seen everything I intended to check. I planned to continue these periodic inspections to hear the opinions and needs of the staff. The researchers there were brilliant; I had faith they would eventually bring me the results I desired.
On the way back, I noticed Grom’s restlessness. He had been fidgety for some time, looking as though he were about to speak only to stop himself at the last second.
He has something he wants to ask me, I realized.
Though I sensed it, I didn't bring it up. It wasn't a topic I was eager to lead with. I was content to let it go if Grom chose to remain silent. However, after a long struggle with himself, he finally spoke up hesitantly.
"Um, Demon King-sama. This Resurrection of the Dead... is it, as I suspect—"
"It is as you suspect. You are not mistaken," I answered, cutting him off.
What Grom wanted to say was undoubtedly about her. He knew the history of how I had come to be this way. When considering the resurrection of the dead, his mind would naturally turn to her.
With my own powers, I had been unable to resurrect her. She had refused to become an undead. Perhaps the limitation was a psychological one on my part, but the reality remained unchanged. That was why I had decided to seek another way. Alongside the development of weapons, I had ordered my researchers to make the resurrection of the dead a reality. It was an absurd, near-impossible request, yet they were faithfully carrying out their work.
"I am obsessed, clearly. Do you think me a fool?"
"No, no! Not at all! I intend to do everything in my power to see your wish granted, Demon King-sama!" Grom clenched his fist and replied with fierce conviction. His words weren't mere flattery; he meant them from the bottom of his heart.
I felt a fresh wave of gratitude for my loyal general’s devotion.